Louisiana State House Defends Gun Rights

After the Parkland school shooting, gun control advocates have been hoping to make gun ownership more restrictive across the country. In quite a few states, they have succeeded. However, the Louisiana House dealt gun control supporters some defeats today.

A House criminal justice committee Tuesday rejected several proposals brought by both sides of the political aisle, largely capping efforts to alter firearm rules after the massacre at a Florida high school where 17 people were killed.

In snubbing a measure that would have outlawed rapid fire devices known as bump stocks, opponents said the bill’s language was too broad. The gunman who last year killed 58 people at a Las Vegas concert in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history used such devices.

The bump stock ban is unnecessary. The manufacturer of the accessory just announced that it was closing its doors. In addition, the ATF has already outlawed them via regulation.

Before they voted down a proposal to enact a 10-day waiting period after a person buys a gun, lawmakers heard from a National Rifle Association representative who said it would be a needless impediment to lawful citizens.

The NRA is right. We have an instant background check system that is more than adequate. A 10 day waiting period after buying a gun is an unnecessary infringement of the right to bear arms, which is guaranteed under the Louisiana Constitution.

Rep. Terry Landry, a Democrat who proposed a bill that would have enacted an outright ban on assault weapons and high capacity magazines, said something has to be done.

“From my perspective, it’s a matter of human rights, not gun rights,” said Landry, a former state police superintendent. His bill did not pass.

Landry’s bill mostly fell apart after this rather surgical takedown during the committee hearing…

You know what is a human right, the right to self-defense. The vast majority of those who own so-called “assault weapons” and standard capacity magazines are law abiding. There is no reason to ban their property.

Unfortunately, the House defeated pro-gun legislation including “constitutional carry”, which would’ve allowed anyone over the age of 21 to carry a concealed weapon without a permit.

Will these defeats deter gun control advocates? Probably not. They’ll be back next year with many of these same bills, and other restrictions on gun rights. It’s important in 2019 to keep a pro-gun majority in the Louisiana Legislature.

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